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Outcomes of Annual General Meeting / 2024 Annual Report

Published Wed 14 May 2025

On 28 April the Queensland Diving Association Incorporated (Diving Queensland) held its Annual General Meeting.

Thank you to everyone who attended both in person and online. Whilst AGMs are largely procedural affairs, the AGM is an opportunity for each of our Affiliate Members (our clubs) to formally ask questions of, and raise business with the management committee of the association. It also serves as the official opportunity to present the 2024 Annual Report (now available to download on the DQ website), and make decisions that require the approval of our clubs per the constitution.

Outcomes of the AGM:

Election of board members
There were three vacant board positions available for nomination at this AGM. Congratulations to Sara Deed, Ellie Bowden, and Emma Pope who will now serve a two year term on the board. Sara and Ellie had been filling casual vacancies on the board since our previous AGM, and we welcome Emma as a new board member who brings a strong background in Risk, Health and Safety, and communication to the board.
Election of competitions committee
We have a dedicated team of volunteers who lead the delivery of our Diving Queensland sanctioned qualifiers and championships. Congratulations to Toni Toohey, Jodie Gillam, and Julie Matkovic for your appointment and thank you for your continued support and dedication to Diving in Queensland
Election of technical coordinator (STOC)
The board resolved at the last board meeting prior to the AGM, that due to inconsistencies in some of our management policies to pause the nomination process for the technical coordinator (STOC). Lisa Wright (DQ CEO) will act in the capacity as the STOC over the next few months whilst those policies are updated, at which stage we will seek to formally appoint an STOC (expected timeframe July 2025)
Motions on Notice - Special Resolution to update the Constitution
As part of our commitment to improve the maturity of how we govern Diving in Queensland, the board proposed several updates to the Constitution of Diving Queensland to be considered by our clubs.

This Special Resolution required 75% of the nominated delegates from our clubs to approve the motion to pass. The motion was unanimously approved by our clubs.

The adopted constitution can be viewed on the DQ website.

In summary, the changes:
- implement governance principles contained in and measured by the Australian Sports Commission's Sports Governance Standards:
  - Ensuring that board members are independent (not hold an office or a financial interest in a club)
  - Setting term limits for board members (10 years)
  - Implementing a cooling off period for board members/CEO after serving (can't serve for 3 years after they retire/resign)
  - Allowing for a mix of elected and appointed board members (4 elected by clubs, up to 3 appointed)
  - Allowing the President to be elected by the board
  - Addition of a nominations committee to guide the board member/committee selection process
- accommodate recent changes in legislation in Queensland regarding association constitutions:
  - Updating to the latest "Model Rules" from the Queensland Office of Fair Trading

Upcoming review of DQ's Policies and Procedures - your feedback is important

As most of our policies and procedures have not been reviewed or refreshed since 2021, at the AGM we shared with our clubs our intention to conduct a review of those policies and procedures, and update them as necessary.

This activity is part of our ongoing work as a board to improve how we govern our sport in Queensland, aligned to the ASC's Sports Governance Principles.

Our current policies and procedures are available on the DQ website. The policies and procedures in scope of the review include: